“The vast majority of business leaders I meet understand that employing indigenous Australians is not just a corporate responsibility, it’s in their business interests. The hard work is still in front of us and we are committed to the challenge.

“Some of the commitments are from companies who will employ thousands of indigenous employees over five to 10 years and we need to ensure there are job-ready candidates to fill those positions."

The minister said that in 2008, the federal government set a target of halving the gap in employment between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians by 2018.

“This means an additional 100,000 indigenous Australians need to get, and keep, jobs in that time," he said.

Since 2009, Job Services Australia providers had made more than 68,000 employment placements for indigenous job-seekers, Senator Arbib said.

During the same period, the government’s Indigenous Employment Program had achieved more than 43,600 employment and training placements, well ahead of its targets, he said.